The Everest Region is one of the most popular trekking destinations of world and is visited by thousands of trekkers each year from all around the globe. Since the first scaling of Mt Everest in 1953, the number of visitors in Khumbu Region has increased greatly: from about 1,400 in 1972-3 to more than 37,000 tourists and approximately 80,000 trekking and expedition staff and porters in 2016. The enormous increase of visitors to the Everest region during the last quarter century has tremendously supported the local economy. Nevertheless, the pressure exerted from tourism has also resulted in increased environmental degradation from waste. With increased in number of visitors, littering of trashes along trekking trails has become prominent.

Construction of garbage bins and management of trashes along trekking trails

With the aim of building a more effective waste collection system along the Region’s trekking trails, SPCC has started to build a permanent garbage bins along the trekking trails since 2013. The garbage bins have segregation chambers to collect trashes by categories so that these wastes will be properly treated and managed accordingly. At this point, we have already built 91 garbage bins at various resting points along the trekking trails with financial support from various organizations. SPCC’s field staff and local partners continuously monitor littering of trashes along the trekking trails and manage the garbage bins.

Adventure Travel Conservation Fund has selected our project “Trekking Waste Infrastructure in Nepal” under their Adopt a Project Program. We shared a common vision of protecting the unique natural environment of adventure travel destinations. This project will help in strengthening the waste management system of our region by building 20 garbage bins at various resting points located along the trekking trails that are used by thousands of trekkers from around the globe to see the tallest mountain of the world, Mt. Everest. Read More